French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, on a post on X on Thursday.
“I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” he said. “I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September.”
Macron’s statement was posted on X along with a copy of a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, dated 24 July.
“The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide relief to the civilian population. Peace is possible.”
He added that “the demilitarisation of Hamas” was key to securing and rebuilding Gaza.
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“We must immediately implement a ceasefire, release all hostages and provide massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”
The letter Macron posted is an apparent response to Abbas, who committed to seeing Hamas demilitarise in a letter on 9 June, which he sent to the French president and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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“In light of the commitments made to me by the president of the Palestinian Authority, I have therefore written to him of my determination to move forward,” Macron said on X.
Building a Palestinian state and ensuring its viability would “contribute to the security of all in the Middle East”, Macron added.
Macron originally planned to recognise a two-state solution at the UN in June along with Saudi Arabia.
However, he put plans on hold after Israel commenced attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.
A ministerial-level meeting will be held on 28 and 29 July at the UN in New York.
Israel’s deputy prime minister and justice minister, Yariv Levin, on Thursday condemned France’s move to recognise a Palestinian, calling it “a black mark on French history and a direct aid to terrorism”.
Levin said France’s “shameful decision” meant it was now “time to apply Israeli sovereignty” to the occupied West Bank, which Israel has illegally occupied since 1967.
Macron said a viable Palestinian state must recognise Israel and contribute to the overall security of the region.
“There is no alternative,” he said.
